Padungan is known as Chinatown, we must come up with something to preserve its beauty and legacy in order to keep its title.
Kuching City South Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng was at Xin Jan Ong Enterprise recently after being encouraged by Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian to visit local craft makers.
“The deputy premier discovered this place and we had a few conversations about the local talents who are able to produce cat statues for the city.
“What we are trying to do now is to create more attractive spots by adding more things on top of the cat statue here to solidify the city’s real identity,” Wee said.
He said, like what Dr Sim has pointed out before during his first year stepping into the office, a lot of things had to be delayed because the priority at that time was to protect the people’s livelihood from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now that we are transitioning into the endemic phase of the pandemic, it is time for us to have a look again on what we have missed out in the past couple of years.
“We are also thinking about doing a charitable event by using these cat statues, which was created by the people at Xin Jan Ong Enterprise in Kuching, but the details have yet to be ironed out and it will be announced in due time,” Wee added.
Wee also stressed that as a mayor, leader or people’s representative, especially towards the end of the pandemic, we must try to assist the people to revive the economy.
“Years back, I was with the craft industry, so I have a certain love for the local crafts and when I heard that there are local talents out there who are doing all these, I decided to go to Batu Kawa to see for myself.
“We would like to see a continuity of these crafts and in order to preserve them, the arts and crafts talent must be passed down to the next generation.
“The talent for arts and crafts nowadays are dying. It is because that only in good times that people are able to spend extra money on handicrafts and this will affect the incomes of those who depend on arts and crafts for their living. In order to preserve these skills, we have to revive, as well as guide and support those who have the talent,” Wee said.
He added that there are a lot of people who have the skills in arts and crafts in the state and that we should promote and support them. This will not only create a stable economy as well as provide job opportunities for people in this particular field, but also to raise awareness of local young creative talents.
“As you know, Kuching is the Creative City of Gastronomy named by UNESCO and I am sure that one day, if we were to preserve and promote these local talents, we could be named as the Creative City of Arts and Culture.
“We’ve always assumed that all of these cat statues, deity statues, and other items are imported from China, but in reality, we have local talent that can produce and manufacture these items, which is what drew me to come here in the first place. In my opinion, it’s time for us, as the local council, to take a look at our own local products, promote them, and ensure that we not only help the local industry but also create more job opportunities.
“Purchasing local items would support the economy of Sarawak, Sarawakians, and the government as a whole,” Wee said.
Wee also said that he intends to have more cat statues in the city so that locals and tourists can snap pictures with them.
“We will not only have one cat for people to take pictures with, but many more because I believe there are not many historical sites in the Padungan and MBKS areas because most of them are under the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), which has all these heritage buildings.
“As a result, I believe there is no harm in establishing our own icon, and since
“On the marketing front, we’re attempting to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism in order to complete all of the mapping and food trials.
“As a Creative City of Gastronomy, we have a responsibility to uphold, and we should not be satisfied with simply receiving the title and moving on.
Wee added that they are taking initiatives such as organising workshops, promoting Kuching products in foreign countries — which will help Sarawak tourism — conducting classes, and improving particular locations and hawker centres.
“But, of course, everything will be done with a focus on the sustainable development goal to protect our Earth, such as through “no plastic campaigns.”
“Tourists will not just come for the food and then go to sleep, therefore we must develop more in other areas that can complement our food as the focus point,” Wee said.
